A 40-foot hidden waterfall accessible only by swimming — the wilder twin of Wadi Bani Khalid, with natural waterslides and almost no one else there.
Al Sharqiyah
Somewhere inside Wadi Hawir, after 20 minutes of scrambling through wet rock and swimming across a pool you cannot touch the bottom of, a 40-foot waterfall drops into a chamber that no road reaches. The wadi runs parallel to the famous Wadi Bani Khalid but shares none of its infrastructure — no café, no paved path, no restrooms, and rarely anyone else.
Natural waterslides cut by centuries of flow into the canyon floor lead down to emerald pools where the current pushes you toward the next passage without requiring a decision. Two abseil points require guide assistance, but the rest of the route is navigable by anyone comfortable with cold water and sustained scrambling. The best version of Hawir disappears the moment Bani Khalid's overflow crowd discovers it — which hasn't happened yet.
A curated selection of moments from the Al Sharqiyah.
About 200 km / 2.5 hours from Muscat. Take the Dakhiliyah route toward Al Kamil; turn south near Wadi Bani Khalid. Asphalt road to the first village; 2WD is fine.
These operators offer guided tours and experiences at Wadi Hoqain — from half-day swims to full overnight treks. Book directly through them for the best experience.